19. Annette #2
"...I'll just be another person who walks out of his life."
Keisha doesn't rush to fill the silence. She simply moves closer until our shoulders touch.
"You know what I think?" I smile faintly.
"I have a feeling you're going to tell me anyway."
She laughs softly. "I think..." She reaches over and squeezes my hand one more time. "...that for someone who's spent her whole life helping other people find the courage to heal..."
She smiles. "...you're being awfully hard on your own heart."
For the first time all evening, I don't have an answer. I simply lean my head against her shoulder, and let myself be quiet.
***
The next morning arrives wrapped in sunshine instead of snow. Spring is finally beginning to win. We wander through downtown with hot chocolate in our hands, stopping every few storefronts because Keisha wants to peek inside another shop. The bakery smells exactly the way I promised.
Warm bread.
Cinnamon.
Vanilla.
Sadie insists we leave with a box of pastries even after I remind her that we'd already eaten breakfast.
Jillie races out from the kitchen long enough to hug me before disappearing again because, according to Sadie, she's helping decorate cookies. "I like her," Keisha says as we step back onto the sidewalk.
"You've known her for four minutes."
"Long enough."
I laugh. "I had a feeling you'd say that."
A little farther down Main Street we stop inside Brooke's bookstore. The bell above the door jingles softly and a gray tabby immediately stretches across the front counter as though greeting customers is exhausting work. "There he is," Brooke points. "my very lazy assistant manager."
"He looks overworked," Keisha says gravely.
"He is."
Brooke scratches behind the cat's ears. "He had to nap twice before lunch." The three of us laugh. For the next twenty minutes Keisha disappears between the shelves while Brooke quietly recommends half a dozen novels she'll probably end up buying.
When we finally step back outside, Keisha hugs the paper bag against her chest.
"I blame you."
"For what?"
"I'm already planning another visit."
"That was the idea."
***
The hospital is our final stop. As we walk through the main entrance, I find myself smiling before I even realize why. People wave. Volunteers call hello. Mrs. Alvarez looks up from reception.
"Good morning, Annette."
"Morning."
She notices Keisha immediately. "You must be the famous friend." Keisha laughs. "I hope only for good reasons.” "So far." Mrs. Alvarez winks. "So far."
I lead Keisha toward the rehabilitation wing. She's taking everything in. The sunlight spilling through the tall windows. The artwork painted by former pediatric patients. The little coffee cart volunteers keep stocked every morning.
"I can see why you love it here," she says quietly.
"I do."
***
"You know..."
Keisha slows beneath the wooden sign hanging above the entrance to the rehabilitation wing.
"I didn't realize the Walker Rehabilitation Center was this beautiful."
I stop walking.
"The...what?"
She looks at me, puzzled.
"The Walker Rehabilitation Center."
I stare up at the polished lettering. I've walked beneath that sign almost every day for months.
Somehow...I've never really connected the name.
"What do you mean...Walker?"
Keisha blinks. "You mean Jamie never told you?"
"Told me what?"
She looks genuinely surprised. "I thought everyone around here knew."
"Knew what?"
She gestures toward the sign. "After his first NHL contract, Jamie donated the money to build the rehabilitation wing."
I simply stare at her. "A few years later his foundation funded the expansion."
"The hydrotherapy pool, the adaptive therapy gym, and the family resource center."
"And they named it after his family."
The words refuse to settle.
"No..."
I shake my head slowly. "He never mentioned any of that."
Keisha smiles softly. "That sounds like how you’ve described Jamie."
Before I can find another question, a familiar voice drifts down the hallway.
"Morning."
I turn. Jamie is walking toward us with a paper coffee cup in one hand and his exercise band looped around the other. He smiles when he sees me. Then his attention shifts to Keisha.
"You must be Keisha." She smiles. "And you must be Jamie."
He laughs. "I hope that's a good thing."
"So far."
I groan. "Please don't encourage her."
"I like her already," Jamie says. "I'm beginning to see why." I fold my arms.
"I've created a monster."
"You've created competition," Keisha replies.
Jamie chuckles. "I'll let you two decide who's winning."
Jamie glances at his watch. "I'd better get going."
I raise an eyebrow. "An appointment?"
He nods. "I've got a meeting with the hospital administrator before practice."
He smiles apologetically at Keisha. "Coach keeps finding new ways to put me to work."
Keisha laughs. "Sounds like a terrible problem."
"I'm surviving."
He looks back at her. "It was really nice meeting you. I hope Annette gives you the full hometown tour."
"She's already doing a pretty good job."
He smiles. "Then enjoy your day. I hope to see you again before you leave."
"You too," I say.
With one last wave, he heads toward the administrative offices.
***
Neither of us speaks for a moment. Keisha watches him go.
Then she quietly says, "You weren't exaggerating."
I glance at her.
"About what?"
"He really does notice everyone."
I smile. "I told you."
She shakes her head. "No." A slow smile spreads across her face. "You actually left quite a lot out. He’s also a HUNK!”
I smack her shoulder and she laughs trying to look suspiciously innocent.
I look toward the therapy room where Jamie disappeared only seconds ago.
Funny...
Five minutes ago, I'd thought I knew exactly who Jamie Walker was.
Now...I'm beginning to wonder how many beautiful things he's quietly done that he never thought important enough to mention.